- Date
- March 11, 2018, 12:35 local (16:35 UTC)
- Place
- Bedford, MA
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Landing
- Aircraft
- N249FSCessna 172
- Defining event
- Landing: Abnormal runway contact
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report June 14, 2018
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- General Aviation Accidents
- Parties
- FAA
- FAA report
- 20180311002249A
- Case key
- 96874
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot’s improper landing flare, which resulted in substantial damage.
Findings · 3
NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.
Analysis
The pilot reported that, during touchdown in crosswind conditions, it "felt like [the airplane] landed heavily on the nose wheel." He added that he taxied to park without further incident. Postaccident examination revealed that the airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The automated weather observation system located at the accident airport reported that, about the time of the accident, the wind was from 300° at 9 knots. The pilot landed on runway 29.
Factual narrative
The pilot reported that, during touchdown in crosswind conditions, it "felt like [the airplane] landed heavily on the nose wheel". He added that, he taxied to park without further incident. A postaccident examination revealed that the airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The automated weather observation system located at the accident airport reported that, about the time of the accident, the wind was from 300° at 9 knots. The pilot landed on runway 29.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N249FS
- Reported as
- Cessna 172 (R)
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 17281249
- Built
- 2005
- Engine
- Lycoming IO-360-L2A, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal
- Departed
- BED · Bedford, MA
- Destination
- BED · Bedford, MA
- Airport
- BED · Laurence G Hanscom Fld, runway 29, 7,011 × 150 ft, asphalt
- Equipment
- Electronic primary flight display, Electronic multifunction display, Handheld GPS
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 56
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 3, With waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- November 1, 2017
- Seat
- Right
- Restraint
- 3-point
- Flight hours
- 257 total · 254 in this make and model · 191 as pilot in command · 8 in the last 90 days · 5 in the last 30 days · 1.7 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 300° at 9 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Temperature
- 39 °F, dew point 21 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.96 inHg
- Observed at
- KBED
Docket · 2
The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 24, 2018, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 1.1 MB in all.
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.
Other investigations on N249FS · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.